triple steven

Visit my new site @ http://stevenanderson.me

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:07:00 +0000

Visit my new site @ http://stevenanderson.me

Great things are happening... and some other stuff..

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:33:00 +0000

Worship last night was really awesome. If you look at some of the posts from last night you can get a glimpse of what was going on last night. Ryan and the band did an amazing job of CONNECTing with the students and leading them to worship God. We talked about being CONNECTed to each other through the church and the benefits, and also the consequences of not being CONNECTed.

A big theme to the start of this year has been getting students talking with each other about God. This is the focus of our small groups, but it is what happens beyond our walls that really counts. I’ve been encouraged several times this week by our students committed to engaging each other and others with the Gospel. One of our triplemsm girls updated her status about being excited to share Christ with someone that day. Students are following through with their commitments, from sharing Christ to getting baptized, it has been an awesome start to the year, with even cooler stuff to come!

Please pray for Kristi and I, well mainly Kristi. She will be having surgery tomorrow to have her gall bladder removed. Thank you in advance for praying for her. Side note: She brought home a pamphlet about the surgery and all the pictures had the gall bladder colored green. Then, I watched a video of the surgery on YouTube... the gall bladder really is a shade of green. Weird!

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Jesus paid it all!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:52:00 +0000

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Ready now!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:03:00 +0000

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IMG_0022.MOV (2523 KB)

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triplemsm worship!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:58:00 +0000

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Triplemsm worship!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:57:00 +0000

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IMG_0020.MOV (3048 KB)

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Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Wouldn’t be nice to have some of the qualities of a computer:

- System Reboot -- I would really like this one for Kristi (my wife). She has dealt with a lot, as I’m sure many women have. I wish that when she gets sick I wish I could just shut her down for a little while and restart and be back to normal. I know there are drawbacks to this analogy too, but I hate to see Kristi in pain and have nothing to do about it.

- Time machine -- Maybe we could go back and act like all that didn’t happen, but we can’t “That just happened!”

- An HD screen — Clarity of vision would be great! See what’s ahead, examine what behind...

What would be a computer quality you would want?

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We love our Pastor! 10 years! Congratulations Dr. Powell!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:33:00 +0000

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Yeh Afters

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:54:00 +0000

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Yellow cavalier

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:27:00 +0000

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Yellow cav

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:15:00 +0000

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@triplemsm worship... We talked about chewing in the things of God and sharing the Good news w/ our friends

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:49:00 +0000

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700 chairs in stage one looks pretty awesome. It would be incredible with students in them. - let's make that happen

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:36:00 +0000

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Jonathan, I mean hulk, took our family out tonight!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:20:00 +0000

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Triple Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:07:00 +0000

3 random thoughts...

1. Looking forward to Sunday morning. Going to spend some time introducing the Coolest group of middle school ministry (triplemsm) leadership to the students they serve. Just have one problem... Kristi and I have to learn the Hoedown Throwdown by Sunday morning. I’m up for the challenge... I think. Three years of line dancing for PE during middle school will be a huge advantage for me, and lucky for Kristi... I’m a GREAT teacher. :)

2. I’ve had the new Angus burger at McD’s now twice. I really liked them, especially the premium pickle. It is a small detail, but they have done a fine job with it. It doesn’t beat a royal red robin though... Those guys are burger geniuses.

3. It is amazing what you find when you are cleaning out closets around a student ministry. I wasn’t doing it but meg was finding nasty clothes, lots of broken stuff. I was hoping that she would walk by with an intern or two that somehow got shoved in a closet and forgotten about. It sure would be nice to have a Kirk or even a Josh year round..

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being a part of the conversation

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:07:00 +0000

With the rise of blogs and now micro-blogging(twitter/facebook), people are becoming more and more the part of conversations. People are engaging subjects, interests, people like never before. There are some people, and I find myself in this category a lot, that are bystanders to the conversations around them, like someone sitting on a bench in the mall watching everything pass by them.

This past Sunday I challenged our students to get engaged in the conversation or start conversations about God. I think this is what gets missed when our students or even when we return to our regular lives. This is how someone can be on a “Jesus High” at camp and return to their old ways later. So the question is how do we get engaged in the conversation.

1. START THE CONVERSATION... Most the time we aren’t engaged in the conversation about God, because we are afraid to start it.
- Don’t be timid. Just because you are a preacher or haven’t gone to seminary doesn’t disqualify you from sharing what God is teaching you or doing in your life. What you share might be an amazing encouragement to those around you! 1 Cor. 2:12

2. Continue the Conversation... In Acts 2:42 it says that they devoted themselves to the apostles teachings and getting together, breaking bread and prayer.
- Once you start it, don’t be one and done.... Keep it up!!

3. Empower Others... Just the mere action of you having conversations about God is going to be a catalyst, but you should also be intentional about sharing it with others.

I know this is what church is all about... But it can’t just happen inside these walls anymore!

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fun with some new HS students

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:55:00 +0000

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Movie 1.mov (6367 KB)

I’m such a dork... I totally didn’t know that you could do this in photobooth. HS students are so smart!!

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3 thing 6th graders will be thinking on move up Sunday.

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:45:00 +0000

Just to add a disclaimer for anyone else that may read this... This is specific for McGregor and triplemsm. I’ve been thinking about how exciting this day is for some of the new 6th grade students and how scary it is for some of them at the same time... Hopefully tomorrow morning we can do some things to alleviate fear and uplift the Savior.

Top 3 things a sixth grader will be thinking:

3. mmmmm pancakes... I wonder how many of these I can fit into my pockets so that I can have a snack during the worship service.

2. I wonder when they are gonna open up the gym so I can show off my dodgeball skillz... :) (that’s for russell)

1. Wow!! My leaders are so awesome!! I can’t wait to come back with 15 friends next Sunday!!

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Scuba Steve

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:09:00 +0000

I get to play a character (Scuba Steve) at children's camp this week. He is basically a young spaced out surfer guy that owns a dive shop. I need some game suggestions for the morning show. I have to do an upbeat time with the students with a game. This morning we played scuba steve says, that's like simon says only with "scuba steve" instead of "simon." Get it...

Anyway!! we are in for a great week here at camp... so far no rain... Pray that it will stay that way!!

Kristi!!

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Words can't express how much I love my wife. But if they could these would definitely be some (emphasis on some) that I would use.

Before school let out some girls invaded my office (with my permission) and asked if they could write on my then blank planning board. This is what I came back to. I was scared at first, but I was glad that the girls had picked up on how much I love Kristi! Back in March we have been in a relationship for 11 years, No Breaks!! July 21 is our 8th anniversary. I love this woman!!

what qualifies us to teach? especially students?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:50:00 +0000

I just can't get this off my mind. After reading James 3:1
   "Not many should become teachers, my brothers, for you know
   that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
I read this and imagine how much more we should be held accountable. (those of us who teach children and youth)

What is the strictness?

1) Your Life - Family, work, freinds, etc. That's right you can't just show up on Sunday and Wednesday and teach or lead a small group. Christ has called us to give our whole lives over to Him, that requires real examination and openness to take the steps to recovery when those ugly areas of our lives are discovered. No one is perfect, but we should all have the desire to strive towards God.

2) Your Words - My first thought was "When did I become a politician?" To examine every word sounds crazy, but it is so true that when you take on any leadership role your words become that much more important.
   How do you react when a crisis happens? Luke 6:45
   Are you quick to speak out of experience when asked questions or do
   you rely on the word of God? 2 Tim. 3:16

3) Your Actions - Are you living a life that is above reproach? There are so many parts of the bible that call His people to righteousness and righteous living, and it should be amplified when leading children and youth. Two things to think about.
   Personally - Are there things that you do that would grieve the
   Holy Spirit?
   Example Setting - Are you someone that is worth following,
   emulating, living like?
Ephesians 5 is a great and challenging chapter of scripture that should grab our attention. We may be the only example of Christ that those around us are getting, we need to stive to be the best.

The Challenge - Remember the High Calling that God has placed you in, use His power to live up to it.

Triple Tuesdays

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Not only do we have triple tuesday tonight (laser battle) but I'm starting this little segment again on my blog.

here we go..

1) I'm not going to mention the fiasco with Michael Jackson and his funeral... but I guess I just did, we can't even get away from it by being intentional to stay away from it... IT IS EVERYWHERE. Alright, done with that now I'm moving on.

2) Do you have someone or organization that you get 1 or 2 mailers from every week. There is this one company (related to student ministry) that must have a gazillion dollar advertising budget because every time I go to my mailbox there is something from them. Maybe they could lower the price of there product, instead of spamming their customers.

3) I need a hobby...

get it done? or get it done right?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:37:00 +0000

I was challenged with this question after reading Craig Groeschel's post on the swerve blog called "cool is no longer cool." I was hit with the question, what are we committed to? I'm a big advocate for creating creative fun environments for our middle school students and doing catchy fun lessons and we have done are fair share of stupid videos. I do have to ask myself were we just getting it done?

The base of any ministry is Christ. How close is the leader to Him, is he or she leading others closer to Him? How are we coming up with our great ideas, from others, books or an overflow of time spent with Him? All questions that Craig raises in his post.

Some thoughts about getting it done and getting it done right -

1) Are we focussed on the task or the task giver? I'm convinced that there has to be a balance here. What happens, gets planned, talked about and everyone on board with should be a direct result of time spent with God. Most bosses don't want you asking questions every 5 minutes and relying on them for everything, but God does. We have to retrain ourselves to be more dependent on God.

2) Are we pointing people to the task or the task giver? When we here about an event or service "I can't wait until I can do that again!" it is really exciting, but the deal is that alone doesn't make our ministries successful. I want people excited and coming back, but when someone is leaving for the night (or after a morning service) it would be better to hear them saying I can't wait to do (insert service opportunity, bible study, personal time with God, telling others about Christ, inviting my friends, repenting from sin, etc.) If your mnistry results in someone coming closer to God you will see them back, or better yet you'll see them leading!

3) What is the task from the task giver? What does God want us to do? Come close to Him and let him work out the details, then work real hard to accomplish His details.

Matthew 6:33

pre-teens, tweens and the rest...

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:01:00 +0000

I've always tried to fight labels as much as possible... Who am I kidding, our culture is about labeling things. Throughout the 90's everyone had to come up with the most PC labels and for the most part these pretty much took. This is something that I'm incredibly happy about because no minister wants their title to be "minister to immature, stinky, body changing, trying to find out where they fit, sometimes super energetic and sometimes way to cool kids." Then someone would probably take that and make it into some sort of acronym because that is what we do as churches.

As it relates to my ministry I was having a conversation last week with some leaders about pre-teens and tweens. We were both discussing how we don't like to think of our students as pre-teens and tweens, we both agreed that in our ministry they would be called middle schoolers.

There were two things that I thought about since that conversation. I was asking myself two important questions: (1) Why don't I like the terms Pre-teen and tween? (2) How are we doing (in our ministry) in preparing students to be teens?

My answer to the first question -

These seem like children's terms for kids that are in a transitional stage of life. As a middle school pastor I think that they should be labeled something cool and exciting, but I'm still thinking about that. I like what Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX has done with naming their ministries to this age group as Merge and Surge. Those two words do justice to defining this stage in life. Merge because it is a time to grow up (not all the way) and start taking on major spiritual responsibility and Surge because once they get it God can do some amazing things in and through them.

My answer to the second question -

This is a totally new perspective for me. I've always known that students are becoming teenagers in my ministry, but I can't say that I've ever done anything super-intentionally aimed at just that specific time with someone isn't 12 anymore. Maybe it is worth the extra hour of thought and extra layer of discussion to see how we can better and more intentionally guide students and parents not just into their High School years but their teen years too.

This could be just a fresh perspective change for me, but one that I find challenging.

YouVersion 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Anderson) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Saw this video and thought. You could get this...

Or you could just get an account with YouVersion.

The new version of YouVersion is great. Go check it out.